Oslo: Norway on Tuesday said it would act as a facilitator for investment of Norwegian companies in India by having "good agreements on tax" so that an adequate environment is in place for long term investments.
Talking to reporters after the two sides signed a number of agreements, Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg said Norway holds India as an important partner in Asia and would like to see more and more investments flowing into India.
However, the Prime Minister made it clear that her government had no say in private companies.
"One of the most important thing we can do is to make sure we have good agreements on tax systems between India and Norway, good visa agreements that will increase Norwegian presence," she said while responding to questions.
She made it clear that business houses from Norway will invest only when they see "it is profitable and the framework for good for a long term investment. We do not politically direct them".
Solberg said she hoped to see more business investment in India. "I hope that we have more cooperation between India and Norway. We know that we have some Norwegian companies who have...We have companies who facilitate services in India and I think economic changes in India need to be known."
The two countries signed over a dozen of Memorandum of Understanding in the fields of science and technology, defence and education.
It included an agreement on exemption of visa requirement for holders of diplomatic and official passports which will help to promote bilateral relations by facilitating the travel of diplomatic and official passport holders.
Under Statement of Intent (SoI) between Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) and Norwegian Defence Research Establishment (FFI), both institutions will explore opportunities for cooperation in research and development programmes in the field of defence research and development through organisation of seminars, conferences, workshops and exchange of relevant information.
An MoU between Indian Council for Medical Research and Research Council of Norway was also signed with a main purpose to establish a health research relationship for encouraging research in a range of health-related areas of mutual interest, including human vaccines, infectious diseases and antimicrobial resistance.
The agreement shall promote direct cooperation within the field being organised through joint calls and funding for research proposals/projects as well as facilitating exchange of scientists and scientific information.
